Friday, May 30, 2008

Are We Living in Perilous Times?

Image retrieved May 30,2008 from bhmtx.org/hopeforamerica.aspx

II Timothy 3:1-7


1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Timothy gives us a clear and terrifying word picture of the world in the last days. It is terrifying because we clearly see the reality of this world every day of our lives. Our world has become a place where evil is disguised as good, good is made to appear to be evil, and people are quick to judge one another based on their own personal world view of right and wrong. We have no absolutes, and are quickly losing our basic rights. We look for help, but our world leaders can no longer be trusted to place the interests of the people ahead of their own personal ambition, desire for power, or other agenda!
There have been other periods in history when people were certain they were living in the last days, and modern day prophets are loud in predicting the end of the world at every turn. While it is impossible to know if we really are living in the end of days, it is possible to receive comfort as our world turns chaotic before our eyes. In the book of John, Jesus gives us hope.
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
I am not a prophet and cannot tell you that we are in the last days. However, I can tell you that Timothy's description of the world in the last days is a perfect description of the world in which we live. Whether the Lord comes today or a thousand years from today; there is only one way to keep your sanity in a changing, chaotic world. Make your calling and election sure...II Peter 1:10 10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
There is no doubt that the world we living in has become a complicated place. Loyalty appears to be a lost concept in our day to day interactions with others on many levels. This makes our relationship to Jesus Christ even more important as we learn to trust and walk by faith every day of our lives. God loves you! No doubt our lives will continue to be complicated and fraught with difficulty but God is faithful and will walk with you every day of your life.
Blessings

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